Pensacola, Fla. – The USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE (DDG 110) will be commissioned June 4, 2011, at the Alabama State Port Authority Pier 2 Terminal in a ceremony co-hosted by the City of Pensacola and the City of Mobile.

The commissioning was originally planned for NAS Pensacola as part of the celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Mobile offered to co-host the ceremony at the Port of Mobile after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the channel leading to the Pensacola base would not be dredged to an adequate depth in time for the commissioning.

“The Navy is extremely selective about who can and should be approved to host such an event,” said Admiral Robert Kelly, USN (Ret), vice chairman of Armed Services for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. “The fact that the community of Mobile stepped in to offer their support when the dredging could not happen here, shows the commitment of this entire region to our military.”

“Mobile is proud to partner with the City of Pensacola in the commissioning of the USS William P. Lawrence. The two cities are regional partners, valuing our collective military and maritime base,” said Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. “Both maritime and military are great contributors to our cities’ economic and workforce environment.”

“Mobile County is honored to host the commissioning of the USS LAWRENCE at our riverfront and to pay tribute to the mission and sacrifices of our armed forces,” said Mobile County Commission President, Merceria Ludgood. Commissioner Connie Hudson expressed enthusiasm for the commissioning noting, ““As a County Commissioner and a proud Navy mom, I am pleased and honored to host the commissioning of the USS LAWRENCE. We are indebted to our men and women in the military for their extraordinary dedication and sacrifices to our country." Commissioner Mike Dean echoed the importance of assisting our armed forces and our region when in need. “We value our partnerships with our Gulf Coast communities and are honored to participate in the upcoming commissioning of the USS Lawrence,” Dean said. As members of the Mobile County Commission, Ludgood, Hudson and Dean work to promote the region.

“Mobile’s maritime tradition includes a robust shipbuilding industry and strong support for our Armed Forces,” said James K. Lyons, director and CEO for the Port Authority. “The Port Authority was pleased to provide a place to celebrate the Navy’s newest warship and the Gulf Coast’s proud shipbuilding heritage.”

The Mobile Council of the Navy League also swung into action, collaborating with Pensacola to bring together the needed stakeholders to ensure the commissioning celebration stayed on the Gulf coast. “The Mobile Navy League welcomed the opportunity to assist Pensacola and the Navy through this unforeseen development. The League members felt Mobile could not only keep the celebrations local, but could deliver to the LAWRENCE the same spirit that was present during Mobile’s commissioning of the USS INDEPENDENCE,” said Walter Meigs, president of the Mobile Council of the Navy League.

“The League also saw a lot of similarities between Admiral Lawrence, for whom the ship is named, and that of our native son, Senator Jeremiah Denton (USN-Retired). Both men achieved the rank of Admiral and were highly decorated Naval Aviators and both were prisoners of war.”

The 500-foot, guided-missile destroyer, built in Pascagoula, Miss., is named for Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence, a noted pilot who was the first Naval Aviator to fly twice the speed of sound and was a finalist to become a Mercury astronaut. After being shot down over North Vietnam and spending almost six years as a prisoner of war, Lawrence became Superintendent of the United States Navy.

“Hosting the commissioning of a ship named after a Naval Aviator of this caliber by Pensacola, the Cradle of Naval Aviation is a true honor,” said Adm. Kelly. The USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE is designed to support maritime warfare well into the 21st century and is capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship’s first commanding officer is Commander Thomas R. Williams who will lead a crew of more than 300.

The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce will continue to organize other events in Pensacola to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation through the end of the year, including a month long celebration of Military Appreciation Month in May. For more information, visit pensacolachamber.com.

About the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1889, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s primary goal is to create a climate of growth and success in the community. Through five focus areas, membership, economic development, government and community affairs, armed services and tourism, the Chamber is committed to promoting, improving and enhancing the Pensacola Bay Area through responsible unity of private and public sectors.

In 2010, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce launched the Vision 2015 initiative, the five-year plan for job creation in the Pensacola Bay Area. Vision 2015 focuses on recruiting new businesses, helping local businesses expand and strengthening the partnerships between the military and the private sector. For more information, visit pensacolachamber.com

About Mobile, AlabamaThe City of Mobile, Alabama sits at the head of Mobile Bay along the Mobile River. Where over 200,000 people call home, Mobile boasts several industries including leaders in maritime, aerospace, healthcare, and tourism. With a low cost of living, job growth, and many attractions like the Gulf Coast Exploreum, the USS Alabama Battleship and the Under Armour Senior Bowl, Mobile is a great place to live, work and play. For more information, visit mobilechamber.com.

About the Alabama State Port AuthorityThe Alabama State Port Authority, headquartered in Mobile, Ala., owns and operates the State of Alabama’s deepwater port facilities at the Port of Mobile. Economic activity derived from the public port industries provides over $7.9 billion in economic impact and generates 66,617 direct and indirect jobs regionally. The Authority’s container, general cargo and bulk facilities have immediate access to two interstate systems, five Class 1 railroads, and nearly 15,000 miles of inland waterway connections. Learn more at asdd.com.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense, or the United States Department of the Navy of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD web site.